Common Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

General Description

Scientific Name: Redunca arundinum

Subspecies: No Subspecies

Other Names: Southern Reedbuck

Status: Least Concern (unknown)

Population Estimate: 73,000 minimum

Population in Assessed Areas: Unassessed

Diet: Herbivore - Browse, Grass & Aquatic Vegitation

Male Size: 60-80 Kgs

Female Size: 40-60 Kgs

Trophy Size: 35.56 cm minimum

Generation Length: 4.4 years

Reproductive Season: Year Round

Time of Activity: Diurnal

Description: Males are typically larger and weigh more than females. Males are usually around 60 – 80 kg and 105 cm tall (shoulder height), while females are generally about 40 – 60 kg and 95 cm tall (shoulder height).

Only males bear horns. These bud straight at six months old and begin to bend slightly forward and sideways at around 14 months old. Fully-grown horns are heavily grooved up to 65% of their length. From 11 months onwards, a white tube of flakes forms at the base of the horns due to the outer keratin layer drying out. By two years old, these flake tubes extend up to 20% of the horns’ length and create a contrasting gradient of shiny black to dark grey at the top of the horns. Full horn half-circle is reached at 3.5 – 4 years and trophy status after 5.5 years.

Common reedbucks are typically a mixed yellow/grey/brown colour with a white underside and a dark brown patch down the front of their forelegs. The tail is short, bushy, and white-tipped. Common reedbucks have a black spot beneath each ear, and while they lack pre-orbital glands, they have inguinal glands in their groin area. A grey/white outline around the mouth and nostrils and a white half-moon patch are visible on the throat (particularly on males).

Ecology: The preferred habitat for common reedbucks includes savannah, broken woodland, temperate and coastal grasslands, gentle slopes, and water-rich areas such as rivers, swamps, marshes, lake shores, or water-logged floodplains. Tall grasses or reeds (90 – 200 cm tall) are required for protection from predators and they rarely move further than 200 m away from these refuges. Open plains, forests, and steep mountainous areas are unsuitable, and common reedbucks are water-dependent.

Common reedbucks are grazers that feed on grasses during the moist summer and browse, green shoots, and reeds in the dry winter. They are highly selective of new growth at a grazing height of 8 – 130 cm but enjoy both sour-veld and mixed-veld grasses. The burning of veld and the competition of other grazers (such as sable, zebra, waterbuck, eland, buffalo, and lechwe) usually force common reedbucks to more riverine areas. Common food sources include Thatch grass (Hyparrhenia dissoluta), Giant spear-grass (Trachypogon spicatus), Guinea grass (Pannicum maximum), Speargrass (Heteropogon contortus), Andropogon amplectens, Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), (Sporobulus spp.), Swamp-grass (Leersia hexantha), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana), Turf grass (Ischaemum brachyatherum), Reeds (Phragmites communis).

Common reedbucks are typically found alone, in pairs, or in small groups of 3 – 6 individuals, with larger groups of up to 15 forming in dry winter months. There is limited bonding between members, with mating partners generally staying around 30 – 80 m apart. Juveniles are chased away at around 8 – 10 months old, where they roam alone or in small groups of other juveniles until they are mature enough to form their own territories at around 3-5 to 4 years old. Aggressive territoriality varies across regions and seasons based on fodder quality and supply. Non-territorial common reedbuck ranges are usually smaller than 100 ha, as they only move about 200 m a day while grazing. Common reedbucks do not migrate but may search for new home ranges of up to 80 km away if a current range becomes unsuitable.

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Behavior: Common reedbucks are nocturnal and mainly active between late afternoon and dawn; however, they may be more active in the daytime during dry winters. Reedbucks usually spend the daytime lying in tall reeds or grass. It is difficult to sneak up on reedbucks because they are constantly aware of their visual surroundings. However, when in danger, they give out high-pitched whistles and wait motionless until the predator gets close to them, then quickly gallop away. Reedbucks rely on camouflage as they are relatively slow for an African antelope.

Predation: Common predators include leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (Panthera leo), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), pythons (Boidae), servals (Leptailurus serval), and jackals (Canis).

Reproduction: Mating occurs year-round, although it peaks during the summer when the males develop noticeably thicker necks, preseumably to aid in breeding success. It is unknown when rams reach sexual maturity, but they reach social maturity at 4 years. Conversely, ewes reach sexual maturity at 10 – 14 months and social maturity at 1.5 years. Ewes start lambing at 2.5 years old. Ewes have a gestation period of 7.5 months and a lambing interval of 9 months. Each ewe gives birth to a single lamb that she hides and suckles (moving the lamb to a different hiding place after each suckle) for 6 – 8 weeks until she chases them away.

Conservation Analysis

Map of Common Reedbuck Distribution

Current & Historic range: Common reedbucks currently exist from southern Gabon to Tanzania in the east and down to South Africa. They are found in many protected areas and on much private land in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.

Historically, the common reedbuck stretched across Central Africa and down the south-eastern regions to South Africa. The destruction of marshland habitats by human development during the 1900s fragmented much of the common reedbuck populations, but in some areas they have begun to repopulate some of their former range.

Current & Historic Populations:. The current total population estimate for common reedbuck is 73,000, though since this estimate was conducted in 1999, it's likely out of date, and does not reflect population fluctuations that have occurred in the past 20 years. Reportedly, around two-thirds of the total population occurs on protected land. The total population should stay the same as long as the common reedbuck remains protected on conservancies and private land. Common reedbucks are, therefore, of Least Concern to the IUCN.

Threats to Species Survival: The primary threats are suspected to be hunting and human development. Common reedbucks are susceptible to hunters (especially those using dogs) because they are relatively slow. Agricultural development is also likely to decrease the common reedbuck range due to their reliance on the water-plentiful habitats that make good farming land.

Recommended Conservation Actions:

The increased preservation of wetland habitats and areas with plentiful water supply, outside of formally protected areas. Not only does this benefit the Common Reedbuck, but also a whole host of other vulnerable wildlife species.
Implement harvest management strategies such as catch limits and controls on hunting of mountain reedbuck, both inside and outside of protected areas, whilst promoting incentives for landowners to preserve this species on their property.
Increase surveying capabilities of most of it's populations, especially outside of protected areas, where much about the status of this species is unknown.

Economic & Cultural Analysis

Ecotourism Value: Moderate

Hunting Value: High

Meat Value: Moderate to High

Average Trophy Value: $1,400 USD

Meat Yield per Animal: 20-35 kg

Economic Value/Impacts: Common Reedbuck can have significant economic value in many areas, both for their meat value, and for their trophy value. Trophy prices for Common Reedbuck can vary significantly based on the country and area, with tags in South Africa often being more expensive than in other areas. They can be a difficult animal to hunt, leading to some hunters spending significant money on it's pursuit.

Their value to ecotourism areas is notable in many areas where they are abundant, being a commonly sighted animal on many safaris. But, it is commonly outshone by larger and more charismatic megafauna, and is rarely a key species that tourists seek out to photogrpah.

Cultural Value: Common reedbuck have likely been hunted by humans and our ancestors for millions of years, and due to their relatively large size, slow speed, and dependance on water, would have likely been a staple to many communities. The meat is considered tasty, similar in taste, texture and nutrition to other similar sized antelopes.

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